30 SECONDS WITH HANK AARON; At $5,000 a Year, He Was Satisfied

By VINCENT M. MALLOZZI

Published: March 20, 2011

Hank Aaron was the major league career home run leader from 1974 until 2007. Now 77, he has served since 1998 as the senior vice president of the Atlanta Braves. He is helping Topps commemorate its 60th anniversary with a Diamond Dig promotion. Special code cards are inserted in packs of 2011 Topps Baseball Series 1. Fans who enter the codes online at DiamondTopps.com receive vintage cards and a chance to win other prizes. VINCENT M. MALLOZZI

Q. Given that Barry Bonds passed you on the career home run list while under suspicion that he used performance enhancers, do you feel in your heart that you're the real home run king?

A. I will answer that as best I can. I feel like I hit 755 home runs and somebody else broke my record. Whatever people want to say about that is fine, but I don't think about it too much.

Q.Do you think the federal perjury trials of Bonds and Roger Clemens will be a distraction to baseball this season?

A. I think baseball is past steroids now, so I don't think the trials will keep people from concentrating on the game itself.

Q. You played briefly in the Negro leagues with the Indianapolis Clowns before joining the Milwaukee Braves. What was that experience like?

A. It was an experience I will never forget. It gave me a sense that I could go on and play professional baseball. I think it was a springboard for me to get to the major leagues. At that time, the Negro leagues was where most black players were scouted; that's where they got their start.

Q.Is it true that at first you batted cross-handed, holding your left hand over your right on the bat handle?

A. Yes. One day, I batted that way during batting practice before a game in Buffalo, and the Braves had sent a scout to watch me. The scout walked over to me, told me to take my right hand and put it over my left. I did it and hit two home runs that day and I never looked back.

Q.Did you experience a lot of racism when you came up with the Milwaukee Braves?

A. Oh, yes, quite a bit. The way I dealt with it was to not deal with it. I just accepted it and went about my business and hoped things would get better.

Q.Do you remember how much you signed for as a major league rookie?

A. I got $5,000 a year. That was it, but I was satisfied.

Q. Who was the toughest pitcher you faced in your career?

A. I'd have to say Curt Simmons. He was a lefty who came up with Philadelphia Phillies and he threw really, really hard.

Q. With Bobby Cox retired, how do you think the Braves will fare this season under Manager Fredi Gonzalez?

A. I know Fredi and I think he and the team will do very well. I think the players won't see much of a difference between his style and Bobby's style.

PHOTO: Hank Aaron's home run record was broken by Barry Bonds in 2007. (PHOTOGRAPH BY EARL WILSON FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES)